Color imaging element, imaging device, and storage medium storing a control program for imaging device

ABSTRACT

The precision of phase difference AF control is raised. 
     An image pickup device includes a color filter that is provided with repeatedly disposed basic array patterns configured with a first array pattern and a second array pattern disposed symmetrically about a point, wherein the first array pattern includes a first filter placed over 2×2 pixels at the top left and a pixel at the bottom right of a 3×3 square array, a second filter placed over a right end pixel of a vertical direction center line of the square array and over a left end pixel a lower edge line, and a third filter placed over a pixel at the right end of the vertical direction upper edge line of the square array and over a center pixel of the lower edge line, and the second array pattern has the same placement of the first filter as that in the first array pattern and has a placement of the second filter and a placement of the third filter swapped over therefrom; and phase difference detection pixels that are placed at positions corresponding to 2 pixels that are adjacent in the horizontal direction out of the 2×2 pixels of at least one side of the upper side or lower side disposed first and second array patterns out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second array patterns configuring the basic array pattern.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP2012/056595, filed Mar. 14, 2012, the disclosureof which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Further,this application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2011-066632, filed Mar. 24, 2011, Japanese Patent Application No.2011-163310, filed Jul. 26, 2011, and Japanese Patent Application No.2011-289043, filed Dec. 28, 2012.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a color image pickup device, an imagingapparatus and a control program for an imaging apparatus, and inparticular to a color image pickup device that includes phase differencedetection pixels and to an imaging apparatus and a control program animaging apparatus of the same.

2. Related Art

For solid state image pickup devices installed in imaging apparatusessuch as digital cameras, there are those that, in order to raise AutoFocus (AF) performance have phase difference detection pixels as aportion of the pixels out of many pixels formed on the solid state imagepickup device light receiving surface (see for example Patent Documents1 to 7).

The phase difference detection pixels are, for example as in the PatentDocuments 1 to 7 listed below, configured by 2 nearby pixels mountedwith the same color filter to form pairs, and are provided withlight-blocking film openings that are respectively smaller than thelight-blocking film openings provided to normal pixels. Moreover, thelight-blocking film opening provided to one of the phase differencedetection pixels configuring a pair is provided eccentrically in aseparation direction (for example on the left side) from the other phasedifference detection pixel, and the light-blocking film opening of theother phase difference detection pixel is provided eccentrically in theopposite direction (for example on the right side).

During AF operation in an imaging apparatus, the signals are read fromthe phase difference detection pixels of the solid state image pickupdevice, a focal point shift amount is derived from the detection signalof the pixel with light-blocking film opening eccentrically placed onthe right side, and the detection signal of the pixel with thelight-blocking film opening eccentrically placed on the left side, andthe focal position of the imaging lens is adjusted.

The precision of such AF operation is higher the more there are of thephase difference detection pixels, however during main image capture ofa normal subject image, the phase difference detection pixels havenarrower light-blocking film openings and lower sensitivity, and hencethere is the issue that they cannot be treated in the same way as normalpixels.

Accordingly, during reading out signals from all the pixels andgenerating a subject image, there is a need to perform gain correctionon detection signals from the phase difference detection pixels to asimilar level to the sensitivity of the normal pixels, or to treat thephase difference detection pixels as missing pixels and to performinterpolation computation correction using the detection signals ofperipheral normal pixels.

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.2000-156823 Patent Document 2 JP-A No. 2007-155929 Patent Document 3JP-A No. 2009-89144 Patent Document 4 JP-A No. 2009-105682 PatentDocument 5 JP-A No. 2010-66494 Patent Document 6 JP-A No. 2008-312073Patent Document 7 Japanese Patent No. 3592147

In such AF operation, although the precision is raised the greater thenumber of phase difference detection pixels, during normal subject imagemain image capture, the phase difference detection pixels have narrowerlight-blocking film openings and lower sensitivities, and there is theissue that they cannot be treated the same as normal pixels, and hencethe number of phase difference detection pixels cannot be increasedexcessively. Also, in cases in which the colors of normal pixelsadjacent to respective phase difference detection pixels configuring apair are different from each other, sometimes color mixing occurs andthere is a deterioration in AF precision.

SUMMARY

The present invention addresses the above issues, and an object thereofis to provide a color image pickup device, an imaging apparatus, and acontrol program for such an imaging apparatus that enable AF precisionusing phase difference detection pixels to be raised.

In order to address the above issues, a color image pickup device of thepresent invention includes: an image pickup device including pluralphotoelectric conversion elements arrayed in a horizontal direction anda vertical direction; a color filter that is provided above pluralpixels configured by the plural photoelectric conversion elements, thecolor filter having repeatedly disposed 6×6 pixel basic array patternsconfigured with a first array pattern and a second array patterndisposed symmetrically about a point, wherein the first array patternincludes a first filter corresponding to a first color that contributesmost to obtaining a brightness signal placed over 2×2 pixels at the topleft and a pixel at the bottom right of a 3×3 square array, a secondfilter corresponding to a second color different from the first colorplaced over a pixel at a right end of a vertical direction center lineof the square array and over a pixel at a left end of a verticaldirection lower edge line of the square array, and a third filtercorresponding to a third color different from the first color and thesecond color placed over a pixel at the right end of the verticaldirection upper edge line of the square array and over a pixel at thecenter of the vertical direction lower edge line of the square array,and the second array pattern has the same placement of the first filteras that in the first array pattern and has a placement of the secondfilter and a placement of the third filter swapped over to those of thefirst array pattern; and phase difference detection pixels that areplaced at positions corresponding to 2 pixels that are adjacent in thehorizontal direction out of the 2×2 pixels of at least one side of theupper side or lower side disposed first array pattern and second arraypattern out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second arraypatterns configuring the basic array pattern.

According to the present invention, the AF precision using phasedifference detection pixels can be raised due to configuration with thephase difference detection pixels placed at positions corresponding tothe 2 pixels that are adjacent in the horizontal direction out of the2×2 pixels of at least one side of the upper side or lower side disposedfirst array pattern and second array pattern out of the 2 first arraypatterns and the 2 second array patterns configuring the basic arraypattern.

Note that configuration may be made such that a light-blocking sectionis provided to the respective phase difference detection pixels thatincludes either a first light-blocking film that blocks light to aregion that is a part of the pixel and lets light through to otherregions, or a second light-blocking film that blocks light to part ofthe pixel and lets light pass through in a region that forms a pair withthe light-pass region of the first light-blocking film.

Moreover, configuration may be made such that the first light-blockingfilm in the light-blocking section blocks light to a pixel horizontaldirection left half region, and the second light-blocking film blockslight to a pixel horizontal direction right half region.

Moreover, configuration may be made such that a first phase differencedetection pixel provided with the first light-blocking film and a secondphase difference detection pixel provided with the second light-blockingfilm are placed adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

Moreover, configuration may be made such that the first color is green(G), the second color is one color of red (R) or blue (B), and the thirdcolor is the other color of red (R) or blue (B).

An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes the color imagepickup device, a drive section that drives the color image pickup deviceso as to read phase difference detection pixel data from the phasedifference detection pixels; and a focus adjustment section that adjustsfocus based on the phase difference detection pixel data.

An imaging apparatus control program of the present invention causesprocessing to be executed in a computer to control an imaging apparatusequipped with a color image pickup device including: an image pickupdevice including plural photoelectric conversion elements arrayed in ahorizontal direction and a vertical direction; a color filter that isprovided above plural pixels configured by the plural photoelectricconversion elements, the color filter having repeatedly disposed 6×6pixel basic array patterns configured with a first array pattern and asecond array pattern disposed symmetrically about a point, wherein thefirst array pattern includes a first filter corresponding to a firstcolor that contributes most to obtaining a brightness signal placed over2×2 pixels at the top left and a pixel at the bottom right of a 3×3square array, a second filter corresponding to a second color differentfrom the first color placed over a pixel at a right end of a verticaldirection center line of the square array and over a pixel at a left endof a vertical direction lower edge line of the square array, and a thirdfilter corresponding to a third color different from the first color andthe second color placed over a pixel at the right end of the verticaldirection upper edge line of the square array and over a pixel at thecenter of the vertical direction lower edge line of the square array,and the second array pattern has the same placement of the first filteras that in the first array pattern and has a placement of the secondfilter and a placement of the third filter swapped over to those of thefirst array pattern; and phase difference detection pixels that areplaced at positions corresponding to 2 pixels that are adjacent in thehorizontal direction out of the 2×2 pixels of at least one side of theupper side or lower side disposed first array pattern and second arraypattern out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second arraypatterns configuring the basic array pattern. The processing of thecontrol program of the imaging apparatus includes driving the colorimage pickup device so as to read phase difference detection pixel datafrom the phase difference detection pixels, and adjusting focus based onthe phase difference detection pixel data.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, the advantageous effect is exhibitedof enabling AF precision using phase difference detection pixels to beraised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an imaging apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a color filter according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating placement of light-blocking portionsaccording to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of processing executed in a controller.

FIG. 5A is a diagram to explain a placement pattern of light-blockingfilm.

FIG. 5B is a diagram to explain a placement pattern of light-blockingfilm.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placementaccording to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placementaccording to a third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placementaccording to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placementaccording to a fifth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placementaccording to a sixth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placementaccording to a seventh exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram to explain a modified example of phase differencedetection pixels.

FIG. 13 is a diagram to explain a method for determining a correlationdirection from pixel values of 2×2 pixels of G pixels contained in acolor filter.

FIG. 14 is a diagram to explain the principles of a basic array patterncontained in a color filter.

FIG. 15 is a diagram to explain a case in which pixel data of phasedifference detection pixels is corrected by average value correction.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placementaccording to a ninth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of light-blockingportion placement according to the ninth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of light-blockingportion placement according to the ninth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of light-blockingportion placement according to the ninth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of light-blockingportion placement according to the ninth exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Explanation follows regarding exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, with reference to the drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an imaging apparatus 10according to the present exemplary embodiment. The imaging apparatus 10is configured including an optical system 12, an image pickup device 14,an image capture processing section 16, an image processing section 20,a drive section 22, and a controller 24.

The optical system 12 is configured including for example a lens setconfigured from plural optical lenses, an aperture adjustment mechanism,a zoom mechanism, and an automatic focusing mechanism.

The image pickup device 14 is what is referred to as a 1-chip imagepickup device configured by an image pickup device, such as for examplea Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal OxideSemiconductor (CMOS) containing plural photoelectric conversion elementsarrayed in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, with a colorfilter disposed above the image pickup device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a color filter 30 according to thepresent invention. Note that (4896×3264) pixels are provided as anexample of the number of pixels with an aspect ratio of 3:2, howeverthere is no limitation to such a number of pixels and aspect ratio. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the color filter 30 is a color filter having arepeatedly disposed 6×6 pixel basic array pattern C1 configured with afirst array pattern A1 and a second array pattern B1 disposedsymmetrically about a point, wherein the first array pattern A1 has afirst filter G (referred to below as G filter) corresponding to G(green) that contributes most to obtaining a brightness signal placed atthe 4 corner and center pixels of a 3×3 pixel square array, a secondfilter R (referred to below as R filter) corresponding to R (red) placedin the line at the horizontal direction center of the square array, anda third filter B (referred to below as B filter) corresponding to B(blue) placed in the line at the vertical direction center of the squarearray, and the second array pattern B1 has the same placement of the Gfilter as that of the first array pattern A1 and has the placement ofthe R filter and the placement of the B filter swapped over thereto.

Namely, the color filter 30 has the following features (1), (2), (3),(4) and (5).

Feature (1)

The color filter 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes the basic arraypattern C1 formed from square placement patterns corresponding to 6×6pixels, with the basic array pattern C1 disposed so as to repeat in boththe horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Namely, the colorfilter array is an array in which each of the filters R, G, B (the Rfilter, G filter, B filter) has a specific periodicity.

Arraying the R filter, G filter and B filter thus with such a specificperiodicity, enables processing to be performed in a repeating patternsuch as during synchronization (interpolation) processing (also calleddemosaicing) of R, G, B signals read from the color image pickup device.

Moreover, when images are reduced by thinning processing in basic arraypattern C units, the color filter array of the thinning processedreduced image can be made similar to the color filter array prior tothinning processing, enabling a common processing circuit to beemployed.

Feature (2)

The color filter 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 has the G filter, thatcorresponds to the color contributing the most to obtaining a brightnesssignal (the color G in the present exemplary embodiment), placed in eachline in the horizontal direction, vertical direction and diagonaldirections of the color filter array.

The G filter corresponding to the brightness system pixels is placed inevery line in the horizontal direction, vertical direction and diagonaldirections of the color filter array, thereby enabling the reproductionprecision of synchronization processing to be raised in the highfrequency region, irrespective of the high frequency direction.

Feature (3)

In the color filter 30 illustrated in FIG. 2, the R filter and B filter,that correspond to the 2 or more other colors than the G color (the Rand B colors in the present exemplary embodiment), are placed in eachline in the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the colorfilter array.

The R filter and B filter are placed in each line in the horizontaldirection and vertical direction of the color filter array, therebyenabling color moire (false color) generation to be suppressed. Thus anoptical low pass filter for suppressing false color generation may beomitted from placement on the optical path of the optical system fromthe incident face to the imaging plane. Moreover, even in cases in whichan optical low pass filter is applied, one can be employed that has aweak action to cut the high frequency components to prevent false colorgeneration, enabling deterioration of resolution to be avoided.

The basic array pattern C1 such as illustrated in FIG. 2 can beconsidered as an array of alternate first array pattern A1 and secondarray pattern B1 in the horizontal direction and vertical direction,wherein the first array pattern A is the 3×3 pixels surrounded by theframe of the broken line, and the second array pattern B1 is the 3×3pixels surrounded by the frame of the single dot intermittent line.

The first array pattern A1 and the second array pattern B1 both have theG filters for the respective brightness system pixels placed at their 4corners and center, so as to be placed along their 2 diagonals.Moreover, in the first array pattern A, the B filters are arrayed in thehorizontal direction on each side of the central G filter, and the Rfilters are arrayed in the vertical direction. However, in the secondarray pattern B, the R filters are arrayed on each side of the central Gfilter in the horizontal direction, and the B filters are arrayed in thevertical direction. Namely, the first array pattern A and the secondarray pattern B1 have reverse positional relationships for the R filtersand the B filters, but have the same placement otherwise.

Moreover, the G filters at the 4 corners of the first array pattern A1and the second array pattern B configure G filters of a square arraycorresponding to 2×2 pixels by disposing the first array pattern A1 andthe second array pattern B1 alternately along the horizontal andvertical directions, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

Feature (4)

The color filter 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 contains a square arraycorresponding to 2×2 pixels formed from the G filters.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, by extracting the 2×2 pixels formed from theG filters, and deriving the difference in absolute value of the pixelvalues of the G pixels in the horizontal direction, the difference inabsolute value of the pixel values of the G pixels in the verticaldirection, and the difference in absolute value of the pixel values ofthe G pixels in the diagonal directions (sloping up to the right andsloping up to the left), determination can be made that there iscorrelation in the direction with the smallest difference in absolutevalue out of the horizontal direction, vertical direction and diagonaldirections.

Namely, according to the color filter array, the data of the G pixelswith the smallest inter pixel separations are employed, thereby enablingdetermination of the direction with the highest correlation out of thehorizontal direction, vertical direction and diagonal directions. Theresult of this directional determination can then be employed ininterpolation processing from the peripheral pixels (synchronizationprocessing).

Feature (5)

The basic array pattern C1 of the color filter 30 illustrated in FIG. 2has point symmetry about the center of the basic array pattern C1 (thecenter of the 4 G filters). Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 2, thefirst array pattern A1 and the second array pattern B1 inside the basicarray pattern C1 also each have respective point symmetry about the Gfilters at their respective centers.

Such symmetry enables the circuit scale of a later stage processingcircuit to be made smaller and to be simplified.

In the basic array pattern C as illustrated in FIG. 14, the color filterarrays of the first and third lines out of the first to sixth horizontaldirection lines are GRGGBG, the color filter array of the second line isBGBRGR, the color filter arrays of the fourth and sixth lines areGBGGRG, and the color filter array of the fifth line is RGRBGB.

In FIG. 14, taking a shifted basic array pattern C1′ as the basic arraypattern C1 shifted respectively by 1 pixel each in the horizontaldirection and vertical direction, and a shifted basic array pattern C1″shifted respectively by 2 pixels each, then the same color filter arrayresults from repeatedly disposing the basic array pattern C1′, C1″ alongthe horizontal direction and vertical direction.

Namely, plural basic array patterns exist that enable configuration ofthe color filter array illustrated in FIG. 14 by repeatedly disposingbasic array patterns in the horizontal direction and vertical direction.In the present exemplary embodiment, the basic array pattern C1 that isthe basic array pattern with point symmetry is, for convenience,referred to as the basic array pattern.

Note that, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the color filter 30 can be viewedas a color filter having repeatedly disposed 6×6 pixel basic arraypatterns C configured with a first array pattern A and a second arraypattern B disposed symmetrically about a point, wherein the first arraypattern is a square array of 3×3 pixels having a G filter placed over2×2 pixels at the top left and a lower right pixel of the 3×3 squarearray, a R filter placed over a pixel at the right end of a verticaldirection center line of the square array and over a pixel at the leftend of a vertical direction lower edge line of the square array, and a Bfilter placed over a pixel at the right end of the vertical directiontop line of the square array and over a pixel at the center of thevertical direction lower edge line of the square array, and the secondarray pattern B has the same placement of the G filter as that in thefirst array pattern A and has a placement of the R filter and aplacement of the B filter swapped over to those of the first arraypattern A. In the following explanation, the color filter 30 isexplained as being repeatedly disposed with the basic array pattern C.

In order to perform AF control in the imaging apparatus 10 with what isreferred to as a phase difference method, the image pickup device 14 hasphase difference detection pixels placed in a predetermined pattern.Light-blocking portions 40 containing light-blocking films 40A thatblock light to the horizontal direction left half of a pixel, andlight-blocking films 40B that block light to the horizontal directionright half of a pixel are formed on the phase difference detectionpixels as illustrated in FIG. 3. In phase difference AF control, a phaseshift amount is detected based on pixel data from the phase differencedetection pixels provided with the light-blocking films 40A and based onpixel data from the phase difference detection pixels provided with thelight-blocking films 40B. The focal position of the imaging lens is thenadjusted based thereon.

In the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, thelight-blocking portions 40 are placed on 2 phase difference detectionpixels provided on one diagonal of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of allthe first array patterns A and the second array patterns B configuringthe basic array pattern C, and are placed in all of the basic arraypatterns C. Note that in FIG. 3, the light-blocking portions 40 areprovided in all of the basic array patterns C, however there is nolimitation thereto, and they may be provided in only the basic arraypatterns C within a specific region of a section of the image pickupdevice. This also applies to other exemplary embodiments below.

The color filter 30 according to the present exemplary embodiment isthereby provided with the light-blocking films 40A, 40B configuring thelight-blocking portions 40 adjacent to each other in a left diagonaldirection of FIG. 3 and provided in all of the phase differencedetection pixels, enabling the precision of phase difference AF controlto be raised.

Moreover, in horizontal direction adjacent pixels, sometimes colormixing arises due to light leaking in from adjacent pixels. However incontrast thereto, in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blockingfilm 40A side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with thelight-blocking films 40A, and the horizontal direction adjacent pixelson the light-blocking film 40B side of the phase difference detectionpixels provided with the light-blocking films 40B configuring respectivepairs with the light-blocking films 40A, are either both R pixels or Bpixels. Influence from color mixing can accordingly be cancelled out,enabling image quality to be improved in comparison to cases in whichthe horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film 40Aside of the phase difference detection pixels provided with thelight-blocking films 40A, and the horizontal direction adjacent pixelson the light-blocking film 40B side of the phase difference detectionpixels provided with the light-blocking films 40B configuring respectivepairs with the light-blocking films 40A, are not the same as each other.

The image capture processing section 16 subjects the image capturesignals that have been output from the image pickup device 14 topredetermined processing, such as amplification processing andcorrelated double sampling, and A/D conversion processing, then outputsthese as pixel data to the image processing section 20.

The image processing section 20 subjects the pixel data that has beenoutput from the image capture processing section 16 to what is referredto as synchronization processing. Namely, for all the pixels,interpolation is performed of pixel data for colors other than thecorresponding respective color from pixel data of peripheral pixels, soas to generate R, G, B pixel data for all pixels. Then, what is referredto as YC conversion processing is performed to the generated R, G, Bpixel data, to generate brightness data Y and color difference data Cr,Cb. Then resizing processing is performed to re-size these signals to asize according to the image capture mode.

The drive section 22 performs for example driving to read image capturesignals from the image pickup device 14 according to instruction fromthe controller 24.

The controller 24 performs overall control of the drive section 22 andthe image processing section 20 according to the image capture mode.Although discussed in detail later, put briefly, the controller 24instructs the drive section 22 to read image capture signals with areading method corresponding to the image capture mode, and instructsthe image processing section 20 to perform image processingcorresponding to the image capture mode.

Since, depending on the image capture mode, there is a need to readthinned image capture signals from the image pickup device 14, thecontroller 24 instructs the drive section 22 so as to thin and readimage capture signals using a thinning method corresponding to theinstructed image capture mode.

Included as image capture modes are a still image mode that capturesstill images, and video modes such as an HD video mode that thins thecaptured image and generates High Definition (HD) video data at acomparatively high definition and records this on a recording mediumsuch as a memory card, not illustrated in the drawings, and a throughvideo mode (live view mode) in which a captured image is thinned and athrough video of comparatively low definition is output to a displaysection, not illustrated in the drawings.

Explanation next follows of operation of the present exemplaryembodiment regarding processing executed by the controller 24, withreference to the flow chart of FIG. 4.

Note that the processing illustrated in FIG. 4 is executed whenexecution of imaging corresponding to the image capture mode isinstructed.

First, at step 100, the drive section 22 is instructed to read pixeldata by a thinning method corresponding to the image capture mode.

For example, for a video mode such as a HD video mode or through videomode, since video data is generated while performing phase difference AFcontrol, phase difference detection pixels are read from at least someof the phase difference detection pixels that are provided with thelight-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40B, namely fromat least some of the lines containing the light-blocking films 40A andthe light-blocking films 40B out of the (6n+1)^(th), (6n+3)^(th),(6n+4)^(th), and (6n+6)^(th) vertical direction lines in FIG. 3 (whereinn=0, 1, 2, and so on). Phase difference AF control is performed based onthe pixel data of these lines, and the other lines (6n+2)^(th) and(6n+5)^(th), namely at least some of the lines out of the normal pixellines, are read and video data generated. During generation of thisvideo data, interpolation is performed for the phase differencedetection pixels from the pixel data of the normal pixels in theirperiphery.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the present exemplary embodiment thelight-blocking films 40A, 40B configuring the light-blocking portions 40are adjacent to each other in the left diagonal direction of FIG. 3 andare provided in all of the phase difference detection pixels, enablingthe precision of phase difference AF control to be raised.

The horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film 40Aside of the phase difference detection pixels provided with thelight-blocking films 40A, and the horizontal direction adjacent pixelson the light-blocking film 40B side of the phase difference detectionpixels provided with the light-blocking films 40B configuring respectivepairs with the light-blocking films 40A, are both either R pixels or Bpixels. The influence of color mixing can accordingly be cancelled out,enabling the image quality of captured images to be raised.

At step 102, the image processing section 20 is instructed to executeimage processing (synchronization processing and YC conversionprocessing) and resizing processing corresponding to the imaging mode.

Note that the controller 24 may be configured with a computer thatincludes for example a CPU, ROM, RAM and non-volatile ROM. In such casesa processing program for the above processing may, for example, bepre-stored on the non-volatile ROM, and then executed by reading intothe CPU.

Note that in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3and FIG. 5A, explanation is given of a case in which horizontaldirection array lines placed with the light-blocking films 40A arealternately disposed in the vertical direction with horizontal directionarray lines placed with the light-blocking films 40B. However, asillustrated in FIG. 5B, configuration may be made with array lines ofthe light-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40Balternately placed in this sequence along the horizontal direction,alternately disposed in the vertical direction with array lines of thelight-blocking films 40B and the light-blocking films 40A alternatelyplaced in this sequence along the horizontal direction. Note that onlythe phase difference detection pixels are illustrated in FIG. 5A andFIG. 5B. In the placement illustrated in FIG. 5B, since this results indiagonal placement of both the light-blocking films 40A and thelight-blocking films 40B, it is possible to focus with good precisionwhen for example capturing an image of a subject that contains diagonallines. This also applies in the following exemplary embodiments.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

Explanation next follows regarding a second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocatedto portions similar to those of the first exemplary embodiment, anddetailed explanation thereof is omitted.

FIG. 6 illustrates a placement of light-blocking films 40A, 40Baccording to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference ofthe present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment isthe placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40B.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the present exemplary embodiment, thelight-blocking portions 40 are provided on each of the phase differencedetection pixels of the upper side first array pattern A and secondarray pattern B out of the 2 first array patterns A and the 2 secondarray patterns B configuring the basic array pattern C, and are placedin all the basic array patterns C. Namely, in the example illustrated inFIG. 6, the light-blocking films 40A are placed in the (6n+3)^(th)vertical direction lines, and the light-blocking films 40B are placed inthe (6n+4)^(th) vertical direction lines.

In such cases, when the image capture mode is a video mode, thecontroller 24 reads pixel data of the phase difference detection pixelsin the lines placed with the light-blocking films 40A, 40B and performsphase difference AF control, and also reads pixel data of normal pixelsnot placed with the light-blocking films 40A, 40B, namely the pixel datain the (6n+1)^(th), (6n+2)^(th), (6n+5)^(th), and (6n+6)^(th) lines, andgenerates video data.

Thus in the present exemplary embodiment, the pixel data from the phasedifference detection pixels is only employed for phase difference AFcontrol, and is not used in generating video data and so there is noneed for interpolation from the peripheral pixels. Moreover, the videodata is generated from pixel data of normal pixels. Thus the processingspeed for phase difference AF control can be raised in comparison tocases in which the phase difference detection pixels are generated basedon video data. Moreover, the processing speed for video data generationcan be raised in comparison to cases in which interpolated video data isgenerated.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

Explanation next follows regarding a third exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocatedto portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiment, anddetailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 illustrates a placement of light-blocking films 40A, 40Baccording to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference ofthe present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment isthe placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40B. Thinning driving issimilar to that of the second exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the present exemplary embodiment, out ofthe 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuringthe respective basic array patterns C, the light-blocking portions 40are provided on 2 phase difference detection pixels on one diagonal ofthe 2×2 pixels at the top left of the first array pattern A that isdisposed at the top left, and are placed in all of the basic arraypatterns C. Namely, in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, thelight-blocking films 40A, 40B are placed on the phase differencedetection pixels at positions where the (6n+3)^(th) and the (6n+4)^(th)vertical direction lines intersect with the (6m+3)^(th) and the(6m+4)^(th) horizontal direction lines (m=0, 1, 2, and so on).

Therefore, since the normal pixels at the periphery of the phasedifference detection pixels are increased in comparison to the secondexemplary embodiment, the precision of interpolation can be raised,enabling image quality to be raised.

Moreover, the horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blockingfilm 40A side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with thelight-blocking films 40A, and the horizontal direction adjacent pixelson the light-blocking film 40B side of the phase difference detectionpixels provided with the light-blocking films 40B are both the same aseach other, namely R pixels. Since R wavelengths are particularlysusceptible to arriving in the adjacent pixels, color mixing can be evenmore effectively prevented, enabling image quality to be further raised.

Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

Explanation next follows regarding a fourth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocatedto portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiments, anddetailed explanation thereof is omitted.

FIG. 8 illustrates a placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40Baccording to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference ofthe present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment isthe placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40B. Thinning driving issimilar to that of the second exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, in the present exemplary embodiment, arraylines configured by basic array patterns that are disposed along thehorizontal direction and have the light-blocking portions 40 provided on2 phase difference detection pixels on one diagonal of the 2×2 pixels atthe top left of a first array pattern A at the top left out of 2 firstarray patterns A and 2 second array patterns B, are alternately disposedin the vertical direction with array lines configured by basic arraypatterns C that are disposed along the horizontal direction and have thelight-blocking portions 40 provided on 2 phase difference detectionpixels on one diagonal of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of the firstarray pattern B on the top right out of 2 first array patterns A and 2second array patterns B. Namely, in the example of FIG. 8, thelight-blocking films 40A, 40B are placed on the phase differencedetection pixels at intersection positions of the (6n+3)^(th) and the(6n+4)^(th) vertical direction lines with the (6m+1)^(th), (6m+3)^(th),(6m+4)^(th), (6m+6)^(th) horizontal direction lines.

Hence, in comparison to the third exemplary embodiment, thelight-blocking films 40A, 40B are also placed on the phase differencedetection pixels of the (6m+1)^(th) and (6m+6)^(th) horizontal directionlines. Namely, due to uniform placement of the phase differencedetection pixels in the horizontal direction, the precision can beraised for phase difference AF control for, for example, a highfrequency image with many vertical lines.

Fifth Exemplary Embodiment

Explanation next follows regarding a fifth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocatedto portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiments, anddetailed explanation thereof is omitted.

FIG. 9 illustrates a placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40Baccording to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference ofthe present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment isthe placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40B.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, in the present exemplary embodiment thelight-blocking portions 40 are provided on each of 2 phase differencedetection pixels on the left side of 2×2 pixels at the top left of 2first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring eachbasic array pattern C, and are placed in all of the basic array patternsC.

During phase difference AF control, the precision of AF control isimproved by making the phase difference detection pixels adjacent anddisposing the phase difference detection pixels in the verticaldirection.

Thus in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, thelight-blocking films 40A, 40B are placed so as to fowl verticaldirection adjacent pairs. An improvement in the precision of phasedifference AF control can accordingly be achieved.

Sixth Exemplary Embodiment

Explanation next follows regarding a sixth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocatedto portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiments, anddetailed explanation thereof is omitted.

FIG. 10 illustrates a placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40Baccording to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference ofthe present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment isthe placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40B.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, in the present exemplary embodiment thelight-blocking portions 40 are provided on each of 2 phase differencedetection pixels on the upper side of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring eachbasic array pattern C, and are placed in all of the basic array patternsC.

Thus in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10, thelight-blocking films 40A, 40B are placed so as to form horizontaldirection adjacent pairs. The number of lines in the vertical directionthat include phase difference detection pixels is accordingly half thatin the fifth exemplary embodiment, thereby enabling the time for readinglines including the phase difference detection pixels to be halved.

Seventh Exemplary Embodiment

Explanation next follows regarding a seventh exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocatedto portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiments, anddetailed explanation thereof is omitted.

FIG. 11 illustrates a placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40Baccording to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference ofthe present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment isthe placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40B.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, in the present exemplary embodiment thelight-blocking portions 40A are provided on each of 2 phase differencedetection pixels on the left side of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of afirst array pattern A and second array pattern B disposed at the upperside of 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns Bconfiguring each basic array pattern, and the light-blocking portions40B are provided on each of 2 phase difference detection pixels on theleft side of 2×2 pixels at the top left of the first array pattern A andsecond array pattern B disposed at the lower side of the 2 first arraypatterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring each basic arraypattern, and the light-blocking films 40A, 40B are placed in all of thebasic array patterns C.

In such cases, the pixels adjacent to the light-blocking films 40A are Gpixels, and the pixels adjacent to the light-blocking films 40B are Rpixels or B pixels, so as to form a regular placement. The influencefrom color mixing can accordingly be cancelled out, enabling theprecision of phase difference AF control to be raised.

Note that in each of the above exemplary embodiments explanation hasbeen given of color filter arrays of color filters of the 3 primarycolors RGB, however the type of color filters are not limited thereto.

Moreover, in each of the above exemplary embodiments, explanation hasbeen given of configurations in which the phase difference detectionpixels are provided with the light-blocking films 40A that block lightto the horizontal direction left half of pixels or the light-blockingfilms 40B that block light to the horizontal direction right half ofpixels, however there is no limitation to these light-blocking regions,as long as the light-blocking films 40A block light to a region that isa part of the phase difference detection pixels and let light through toother regions, and the light-blocking films 40B block light to part ofthe phase difference detection pixels and let light pass through in aregion that forms a pair with the light-pass region of thelight-blocking films 40A.

Moreover, in each of the above exemplary embodiments, explanation hasbeen given of a configuration in which the light-blocking films areprovided on the phase difference detection pixels, however there is nolimitation thereto. For example, the phase difference detection pixelsmay be formed by adopting the configuration described in Japanese PatentApplication 2009-227338. Namely, a configuration in which an imagepickup device is configured by top microlenses, inner microlenses, andthe light receiving elements of similar shape, configured to includefirst pixels D1 that receive light rays that have passed through theentire region of the imaging lens eye, second pixels D2 that receiveonly light rays that passed through a portion of a half region of theimaging lens eye, and third pixels D3 that receive only light rays thathave passed through a portion of a half region of the imaging lens eyethat is a different region to in the second pixels D2. Then, asillustrated in FIG. 12, top microlenses L2, L3 are disposed on thesecond pixels D2 and the third pixels D3, the top microlenses L2, L3having a smaller diameter than top microlenses L1 for the first pixelsD1 and being respectively shifted in different directions with respectto the optical axes of the inner microlenses. The top microlenses andthe light receiving elements are disposed shifted with respect to eachother. The second pixels D2 and the third pixels D3 can accordingly beformed in this manner as the phase difference detection pixels. Thepresent invention is also applicable to such a configuration. Moreover,depending on the configuration of the image pickup device, an embodimentmay also be implemented without provision of the inner lenses. Moreover,the configuration of the phase difference pixels is not limited to theconfiguration described above, and it is possible to substitute anyconfiguration capable of partitioning the eye.

Eighth Exemplary Embodiment

Explanation next follows regarding an eighth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Since phase difference detection pixels have a lower sensitivity thannormal pixels, and their characteristics are also differ, there is aneed to correct the pixel data from phase difference detection pixelswhen the pixel data of the phase difference detection pixels is employedas imaging data for a still image or a video image. Explanation followsregarding a pixel data correction method for phase difference detectionpixels in the present exemplary embodiment.

As correction methods, two types of method are known, average valuecorrection and gain correction, and either may be employed. Averagevalue correction is a method in which an average value of the pixelvalues of normal pixels at the periphery of the phase differencedetection pixels is taken as pixel data for these phase differencedetection pixels. Gain correction is a method by which pixel data forthe phase difference detection pixels is raised by multiplying pixeldata for the phase difference detection pixels by a specific gainequivalent to the difference in level between the normal pixels and thephase difference detection pixels.

Specific explanation follows regarding a case in which pixel data ofphase difference detection pixels is corrected by average valuecorrection.

FIG. 15 illustrates G pixel placement within 4×4 pixels centered on 2×2G pixels at the center of a basic array pattern C1. The central 2×2 Gpixels in FIG. 15 are respectively G1, G2, G3, G4, clockwise from thetop left, and the G pixels peripheral thereto are respectively G5, G6,G7, G8, clockwise from the top left.

In cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed asillustrated in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, the G1 and G3 pixels inFIG. 15 are phase difference detection pixels.

Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels areplaced as illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11, the G1 and the G4 pixels inFIG. 15 are phase difference detection pixels.

Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels areplaced as illustrated in FIG. 10, the G1 and G2 pixels in FIG. 15 arephase difference detection pixels.

In cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are disposed asillustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in cases in which the pixeldata of the G1 pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel isemployed as image data, the average value of the pixel data ofperipheral normal pixels, for example each of the G2, G4, G5 pixels, istaken as the pixel data for the G1 pixel.

Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels areplaced as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in cases in whichthe pixel data of the G3 pixel that is a phase difference detectionpixel is employed as image data, the average value of the pixel data ofperipheral normal pixels, for example each of the G2, G4, G7 pixels, istaken as the pixel data for the G3 pixel.

Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels areplaced as illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11, in cases in which the pixeldata of the G1 pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel isemployed as image data, the average value of the pixel data ofperipheral normal pixels, for example each of the G2, G3, G5 pixels, istaken as the pixel data for the G2 pixel.

Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels areplaced as illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11, in cases in which the pixeldata of the G4 pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel isemployed as image data, the average value of the pixel data ofperipheral normal pixels, for example each of the G2, G3, G8 pixels, istaken as the pixel data for the G4 pixel.

Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels areplaced as illustrated in FIG. 10, in cases in which the pixel data ofthe G1 pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel is employed asimage data, the average value of the pixel data of peripheral normalpixels, for example each of the G3, G4, G5 pixels, is taken as the pixeldata for the G1 pixel.

Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels areplaced as illustrated in FIG. 10, in cases in which the pixel data ofthe G2 pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel is employed asimage data, the average value of the pixel data of peripheral normalpixels, for example each of the G3, G4, G6 pixels, is taken as the pixeldata for the G2 pixel.

Average value correction for the pixel data of phase differencedetection pixels is accordingly performed as above based on the pixeldata of the peripheral normal pixels.

Note that whether a better image is obtained by performing gaincorrection or average value correction sometimes differs depending onthe contents of the captured image. Consequently, use of gain correctionor average value correction may be chosen according to the contents ofthe captured image.

Ninth Exemplary Embodiment

Explanation next follows regarding a ninth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocatedto portions similar to the first exemplary embodiment, and detailedexplanation thereof is omitted.

FIG. 16 illustrates a placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40Baccording to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference ofthe present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment isthe placement of the light-blocking films 40A, 40B.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in the present exemplary embodiment, out of 2first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring basicarray patterns C, light-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films40B are placed in positions corresponding to 2 horizontal directionadjacent pixels out of 2×2 pixels of at least one of the upper side orthe lower side of the first array patterns A (the first array pattern Aon the upper side in FIG. 16) and of the second array patterns B (thesecond array pattern B on the upper side in FIG. 16).

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 16, a case has been given in which thelight-blocking films 40A, 40B are placed in the first array pattern Aand the second array pattern B on the upper side out of the 2 firstarray patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring the basicarray pattern C, however configuration may be made such that thelight-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40B are placed inthe first array pattern A and the second array pattern B on the lowerside out of the 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns Bconfiguring the basic array pattern C.

Moreover, the light-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40Bare placed in 2 horizontal direction adjacent pixels at the lower sideout of the 2×2 pixels in the upper side first array pattern A and secondarray pattern B out of the 2 first array patterns A and 2 second arraypatterns B configuring the basic array pattern C, namely in the 6^(th)to 8^(th) lines of the basic array pattern C disposed in the 6^(th) to11^(th) vertical direction lines.

Moreover, the light-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40Bare placed in 2 horizontal direction adjacent pixels at the upper sideout of the 2×2 pixels in the lower side first array pattern A and thesecond array pattern B out of the 2 first array patterns A and 2 secondarray patterns B configuring the basic array pattern C, namely in thefirst array pattern A and the second array pattern B in the 15^(th) to17^(th) lines of the basic array pattern C disposed in the 12^(th) to17^(th) vertical direction lines.

Namely, in the example in FIG. 16, the light-blocking films 40A and thelight-blocking films 40B are placed on 2 horizontal direction adjacent Gpixels in the (12n+3)^(th) and the (12n+7)^(th) vertical direction lines(n=0, 1, 2 and so on).

In such cases, in cases in which a video mode is the image capture mode,the controller 24 generates video data by excluding the lines in whichthe light-blocking films 40A, 40B are placed, and reading pixel datafrom the lines of normal pixels not placed with the light-blocking films40A, 40B, for example the (2n+2)^(th) lines. Namely, video data isgenerated by reading line image data from vertical direction evennumbered lines.

Thus, in the present exemplary embodiment, placing both thelight-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40B in thevertical direction odd numbered lines enables video data to be generatedby reading line image data from the vertical direction even numberedlines.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 16, either the light-blocking films 40Aor the light-blocking films 40B are placed on 2 horizontal directionadjacent G pixels out of 2×2 G pixels, and there are many of samecolored normal pixels, these being G pixels, placed at the peripherythereof. Hence, in for example a still image mode, in cases in whichpixel data from phase difference detection pixels is also employed togenerate image data, the interpolation precision can be raised wheninterpolating pixel data for the phase difference detection pixels fromthe pixel data of the normal pixels.

Moreover, due to placing the light-blocking films 40A and thelight-blocking films 40B in pairs adjacent to each other in thehorizontal direction, the AF precision using the phase differencedetection pixels can be raised.

Moreover, in cases in which the image pickup device is configured by aCMOS image sensor, there is a shift in light exposure timing for eachline due to reading line image data for each of the lines sequentiallyin the vertical direction with what is referred to as a rolling shuttermethod. However, in the present exemplary embodiment, due to the pairedlight-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40B being placedadjacent to each other in the horizontal direction, there is no timingshift between the light exposure timing of the pixels provided with therespective pairs of the light-blocking films 40A and the light-blockingfilms 40B. The AF precision using the phase difference detection pixelscan accordingly be further raised. Note that a rolling shutter methodis, in MOS image pickup devices, a method in which resetting is notperformed all at once for all the pixels in 1 screen, but insteadexposure is started by performing sequential resetting for each scanline and pixel (also referred to as a focal plane shutter method).

Note that although explanation has been given in the present exemplaryembodiment of a configuration in which the light-blocking films 40A andthe light-blocking films 40B are placed in respective pairs ofhorizontal direction adjacent pixels, there is no limitation thereto,and as illustrated in FIG. 17, placement may be made such that they arealigned in a row in the vertical direction.

Moreover, although explanation has been given in the present exemplaryembodiment of a case in which the light-blocking films 40A are placed onthe (12n+3)^(th) vertical direction lines and the light-blocking films40B are placed on the (12n+7)^(th) vertical direction lines (n=0, 1, 2,and so on), there is no limitation thereto.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 18, configuration may be made suchthat the light-blocking films 40A are placed in the (12n+3)^(th)vertical direction lines and the light-blocking films 40B are placed onthe (12n+6)^(th) vertical direction lines

Moreover, configuration may be made as illustrated in FIG. 19 with thelight-blocking films 40A placed in the (12n+4)^(th) vertical directionlines and the light-blocking films 40B placed on the (12n+7)^(th)vertical direction lines.

Moreover, configuration may be made as illustrated in FIG. 20 with thelight-blocking films 40A placed in the (12n+4)^(th) vertical directionlines (n=0, 1, 2, and so on) and the light-blocking films 40B placed onthe (12n+6)^(th) vertical direction lines.

Note that in the case illustrated in FIG. 20, since both thelight-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40B are placed inthe vertical direction even numbered lines, video data is generated byreading the line image data of the vertical direction odd numberedlines.

Moreover, in the examples of FIG. 16 to FIG. 20, when considering unitsof the basic array pattern C, out of the 2 first array patterns A and 2second array patterns B configuring the basic array pattern C, basicarray patterns C provided with the light-blocking films 40A and thelight-blocking films 40B in the upper side first array pattern A andsecond array pattern B are alternately disposed in a repeatingconfiguration with basic array patterns C provided with thelight-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40B in the lowerside first array pattern A and second array pattern B, however there isno limitation thereto.

For example, out of the 2 first array patterns A and 2 second arraypatterns B configuring the basic array patterns C, the light-blockingfilms 40A and the light-blocking films 40B may be provided only in theupper side first array pattern A and second array pattern B, thelight-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40B may beprovided only in the lower side first array pattern A and second arraypattern B, or the light-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films40B may be provided in both the upper side and lower side first arraypattern A and second array pattern B.

Moreover, in the examples of FIG. 16 to FIG. 20, when considering unitsof the basic array pattern C, configuration is made with thelight-blocking films 40A and the light-blocking films 40B placed in allthe basic array patterns C, however there may be basic array patterns Cpresent in the vertical direction not placed with the light-blockingfilms 40A and the light-blocking films 40B. Namely, a vertical directionthinned placement of the light-blocking films 40A and the light-blockingfilms 40B may be adopted on a basic array pattern C unit basis. Ahorizontal direction thinned placement of the light-blocking films 40Aand the light-blocking films 40B may also be adopted on a basic arraypattern C unit basis.

What is claimed is:
 1. A color image pickup device comprising: an imagepickup device comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversionelements arrayed in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; acolor filter that is provided above a plurality of pixels configured bythe plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, the color filterhaving repeatedly disposed 6×6 pixel basic array patterns configuredwith a first array pattern and a second array pattern disposedsymmetrically about a point, wherein the first array pattern includes afirst filter corresponding to a first color that contributes most toobtaining a brightness signal placed over 2×2 pixels at the top left anda pixel at the bottom right of a 3×3 square array, a second filtercorresponding to a second color different from the first color placedover a pixel at a right end of a vertical direction center line of thesquare array and over a pixel at a left end of a vertical directionlower edge line of the square array, and a third filter corresponding toa third color different from the first color and the second color placedover a pixel at the right end of the vertical direction upper edge lineof the square array and over a pixel at the center of the verticaldirection lower edge line of the square array, and the second arraypattern has the same placement of the first filter as that in the firstarray pattern and has a placement of the second filter and a placementof the third filter swapped over to those of the first array pattern;and phase difference detection pixels that are placed at positionscorresponding to 2 pixels that are adjacent in the horizontal directionout of the 2×2 pixels of at least one side of the upper side or lowerside disposed first array pattern and second array pattern out of the 2first array patterns and the 2 second array patterns configuring thebasic array pattern.
 2. The color image pickup device of claim 1,further comprising: a light-blocking section provided to the respectivephase difference detection pixels that comprises either a firstlight-blocking film that blocks light to a region that is a part of thepixel and lets light through to other regions, or a secondlight-blocking film that blocks light to part of the pixel and letslight pass through in a region that forms a pair with the light-passregion of the first light-blocking film.
 3. The color image pickupdevice of claim 2, wherein the first light-blocking film in thelight-blocking section blocks light to a pixel horizontal direction lefthalf region, and the second light-blocking film blocks light to a pixelhorizontal direction right half region.
 4. The color image pickup deviceof claim 2, wherein a first phase difference detection pixel providedwith the first light-blocking film and a second phase differencedetection pixel provided with the second light-blocking film are placedadjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.
 5. The color imagepickup device of claim 1, wherein the first color is green (G), thesecond color is one color of red (R) or blue (B), and the third color isthe other color of red (R) or blue (B).
 6. An imaging apparatuscomprising: the color image pickup device of claim 1; a drive sectionthat drives the color image pickup device so as to read phase differencedetection pixel data from the phase difference detection pixels; and afocus adjustment section that adjusts focus based on the phasedifference detection pixel data.
 7. A non-transitory storage mediumstoring a control program that causes processing to be executed in acomputer to control an imaging apparatus equipped with a color imagepickup device comprising: an image pickup device comprising a pluralityof photoelectric conversion elements arrayed in a horizontal directionand a vertical direction; a color filter that is provided above aplurality of pixels configured by the plurality of photoelectricconversion elements, the color filter having repeatedly disposed 6×6pixel basic array patterns configured with a first array pattern and asecond array pattern disposed symmetrically about a point, wherein thefirst array pattern includes a first filter corresponding to a firstcolor that contributes most to obtaining a brightness signal placed over2×2 pixels at the top left and a pixel at the bottom right of a 3×3square array, a second filter corresponding to a second color differentfrom the first color placed over a pixel at a right end of a verticaldirection center line of the square array and over a pixel at a left endof a vertical direction lower edge line of the square array, and a thirdfilter corresponding to a third color different from the first color andthe second color placed over a pixel at the right end of the verticaldirection upper edge line of the square array and over a pixel at thecenter of the vertical direction lower edge line of the square array,and the second array pattern has the same placement of the first filteras that in the first array pattern and has a placement of the secondfilter and a placement of the third filter swapped over to those of thefirst array pattern; and phase difference detection pixels that areplaced at positions corresponding to 2 pixels that are adjacent in thehorizontal direction out of the 2×2 pixels of at least one side of theupper side or lower side disposed first array pattern and second arraypattern out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second arraypatterns configuring the basic array pattern; and wherein the processingof the control program of the imaging apparatus comprises driving thecolor image pickup device so as to read phase difference detection pixeldata from the phase difference detection pixels, and adjusting focusbased on the phase difference detection pixel data.